Dad of boy, 5, allegedly murdered by his mum speaks out at her trial

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

The dad of a five-year-old boy allegedly beaten before being poisoned to death with antidepressants by his mother has recounted the moment she rang him and told him that he was 'not breathing' and was 'turning blue.' Gary Keenan also told Claire Scanlon's murder trial that in another call from her several months after their son Dylan Scanlon's death, she said 'this is all your f****** fault.' Dylan was declared dead after being found unresponsive at his home in Limeside, Oldham, on New Year's 2021.

He was found with multiple bruises over his head and face, and a toxicology report showed he had a fatal dose of Mirtazapine, an antidepressant, in his system, jurors have been told. Join our WhatsApp Top Stories and Breaking News group by clicking this link The prosecution alleges that Claire Scanlon 'took the ultimate step to take Dylan away from her ex-partner', that she 'deliberately fed him the drug that killed him' and 'in her anger, she also beat Dylan with sufficient force to bruise muscles on both sides of his head and across his face.' Ms Scanlon, 38, denies charges of murder, manslaughter and child cruelty.

On the third day of the trial at Minshull Street Crown Court, Mr Keenan said he met Ms Scanlon, who had a son called Shawn from a previous relationship, in 2005 and they were together for 15 years until the relationship broke down.

He said her mental health 'deteriorated' following the death of her mother Dianne, for whom she had been a carer, from Huntingdon's disease in 2014, adding that she 'struggled to cope' and was on medication for depression.